Wheelchair having an armrest adjusting device

ABSTRACT

A wheelchair has two sides each provided with a side support frame, an armrest, and an armrest adjusting device. The side support frame has a front portion provided with a support rack, and a rear portion provided with a positioning bar pivotally connected with a rotation shaft, so that the side support frame may be pivoted about the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft is rotatably mounted in the support shaft of the wheelchair, so that the side support frame and the rotation shaft may be rotated about the support shaft. Thus, the side support frame may be rotated about the support shaft through a fixed angle, so that the side support frame may be rotated and moved to a rear portion of the backrest of the wheelchair, thereby facilitating the user entering and leaving the wheelchair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device, and more particularly to a wheelchair having anarmrest adjusting device, the side support frame may be rotated andmoved to a rear portion of the backrest of the wheelchair, therebyfacilitating the user entering and leaving the wheelchair.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional wheelchair is provided with two armrests eachhaving a fixed height, so that the height of each of the armrests cannotbe adjusted and cannot be available for users of different statures,thereby decreasing the versatility of the wheelchair. In addition, eachof the armrests is fixed on the main frame of the wheelchair, therebylimiting movement of the user, so that the user cannot enter or leavethe wheelchair easily and conveniently, thereby causing inconvenience tothe user. Further, the support force of each of the armrests isconcentrated on connection of the armrest and the backrest and islimited, so that the armrest is easily broken due to burden or due to along-term utilization.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate thedisadvantage of the conventional wheelchair.

[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide awheelchair having an armrest adjusting device, wherein the side supportframe of each of the two sides of the wheelchair may be rotated aboutthe support shaft of the wheelchair through a fixed angle, so that theside support frame may be rotated and moved to a rear portion of thebackrest of the wheelchair, thereby facilitating the user entering andleaving the wheelchair.

[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide awheelchair having an armrest adjusting device, wherein the side supportframe of each of the two sides of the wheelchair may be pivoted aboutthe pivot shaft of the rotation shaft to any inclined angle, therebyfacilitating the user operating the wheelchair.

[0008] A further objective of the present invention is to provide awheelchair having an armrest adjusting device, wherein each of the twolift posts of the armrest is movable on each of the two hollow supportposts of the side support frame, so that the height of the armrest maybe adjusted easily and conveniently.

[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide awheelchair having an armrest adjusting device, wherein the side supportframe of each of the two sides of the wheelchair may provide a stableand rigid support effect to the wheelchair, thereby protecting theuser's safety.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided awheelchair having two sides each provided with a side support frame, anarmrest adjustably mounted on the side support frame, and an armrestadjusting device mounted between the armrest and the side support framefor adjusting a height of the armrest, wherein:

[0011] the side support frame has a front portion provided with asupport rack, and a rear portion provided with a positioning bar, thepositioning bar is pivotally connected with a rotation shaft, so thatthe side support frame may be pivoted about the rotation shaft, therotation shaft is rotatably mounted in a support shaft that is fixed onthe wheelchair, so that the side support frame and the rotation shaftmay be rotated about the support shaft.

[0012] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description withappropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away side plan operational view of thewheelchair having an armrest adjusting device as shown in FIG. 1 in use;

[0015]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective assembly view of the wheelchairhaving an armrest adjusting device as shown in FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention; and

[0017]FIG. 5 is a schematic side plan operational view of the wheelchairhaving an armrest adjusting device as shown in FIG. 1 in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-4, awheelchair “A” having an armrest adjusting device in accordance with apreferred embodiment of the present invention has two sides eachprovided with a side support frame 10, an armrest 20 adjustably mountedon the side support frame 10, and an armrest adjusting device 30 mountedbetween the armrest 20 and the side support frame 10 for adjusting theheight of the armrest 20.

[0019] The side support frame 10 has a front portion provided with asupport rack 40 for strengthening the support force of the armrest 20,and a rear portion provided with a positioning bar 70. The support rack40 has a side provided with a locking member 50, and a positioningdevice 60 co-operating with the locking member 50, so that the frontportion of the side support frame 10 may be positioned exactly. Thepositioning bar 70 has a bottom provided with a rotation shaft 80 whichis rotatably mounted in a support shaft 90 that is fixed on thewheelchair “A”, so that the rotation shaft 80 may be rotated about thesupport shaft 90, and the side support frame 10 may be rotated through afixed angle. Thus, the side support frame 10 may be pivoted and moved toa rear portion of the backrest of the wheelchair “A”, therebyfacilitating the user entering and leaving the wheelchair “A”.

[0020] The side support frame 10 is mounted on each of the two sides ofthe wheelchair “A”, and has a mediate portion provided with a side plate11 for retaining the user. The side plate 11 has a top provided with acircular positioning portion 12 that may co-operate with the armrestadjusting device 30. The top of the side plate 11 is provided with twoopposite rectangular fixing portions 13. Each of the two fixing portions13 has an inside formed with a positioning channel 14. In addition, themediate portion of the side support frame 10 is provided with two hollowsupport posts 15 each located beside one of the two fixing portions 13on the top of the side plate 11.

[0021] The armrest 20 is adjustably mounted on the side support frame 10of each of the two sides of the wheelchair “A”, and has a bottomprovided with two opposite hollow lift posts 21 each slidably mounted inone of the two hollow support posts 15 of the side support frame 10 andeach formed with multiple positioning holes 22.

[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the armrest adjusting device 30 ismounted between the two fixing portions 13 to co-operate with thecircular positioning portion 12 of the side plate 11.

[0023] The armrest adjusting device 30 includes a handle 31 pivotallymounted on the circular positioning portion 12 of the side plate 11 by apivot shaft, and a cover 32 mounted on the handle 31 to pivot therewith.The cover 32 has a periphery provided with two opposite protruding hookstubs 33.

[0024] The armrest adjusting device 30 further includes two adjustinglevers 34 each having a first end pivotally mounted on one of twoopposite protruding hook stubs 33 of the cover 32, two positioning rods35 each slidably mounted in the positioning channel 14 of one of the twofixing portions 13 and each having a first end pivotally mounted on asecond end of one of the two adjusting levers 34 and a second endprotruded outward from the positioning channel 14 and detachably lockedin a selective one of the multiple positioning holes 22 of one of thetwo opposite hollow lift posts 21 of the armrest 20, and two elasticmembers 36 each mounted on one of the two positioning rods 35 and eachbiased in the positioning channel 14 of the respective fixing portion13.

[0025] The armrest adjusting device 30 further includes a catch flange350 formed in each of the two fixing portions 13, so that each of thetwo elastic members 36 is biased between the catch flange 350 and aninner edge of the positioning channel 14 of the respective fixingportion 13.

[0026] In operation, as shown in FIG. 2, when the handle 31 is rotated,the cover 32 may be rotated, so that each of two opposite protrudinghook stubs 33 of the cover 32 may be moved to pivot and move each of thetwo adjusting levers 34, to move each of the two positioning rods 35toward the cover 32, thereby detaching the second end of each of the twopositioning rods 35 from the positioning hole 22 of the respective liftpost 21 of the armrest 20, so that each of the two lift posts 21 of thearmrest 20 is movable on each of the two hollow support posts 15 of theside support frame 10, so as to adjust the height of the armrest 20.

[0027] When the second end of each of the two positioning rods 35 isaligned with another positioning hole 22 of the respective lift post 21of the armrest 20, the second end of each of the two positioning rods 35may be locked in the positioning hole 22 of the respective lift post 21of the armrest 20 by the restoring force of each of the two elasticmembers 36.

[0028] The support rack 40 is mounted on the front portion of the sidesupport frame 10 of each of the two sides of the wheelchair “A”, and theside support frame 10 includes a support crossbar 43 having a first endconnected to the support rack 40 and a second end pivotally mounted on apivot shaft 81 formed on a top of the rotation shaft 80. The supportrack 40 is provided with a locking portion 41, and has a bottom providedwith an insertion rod 42 to co-operate with the positioning device 60.

[0029] The locking member 50 of the side support frame 10 is pivotallymounted on the locking portion 41 of the support rack 40 by a pivotaxle, and has a bottom formed with a hook portion 51. An elastic member52 is mounted on the locking member 50, and has a first end secured onthe locking member 50 and a second end locked on the locking portion 41of the support rack 40, so that the hook portion 51 of the lockingmember 50 may be locked on the positioning device 60 elastically.

[0030] The positioning device 60 is secured on each of the two sides ofthe wheelchair “A”, and is formed with an insertion recess 61 forinsertion of the insertion rod 42 of the support rack 40. Thepositioning device 60 has a wall formed with a hook cavity 62 forlocking the hook portion 51 of the locking member 50, so that thesupport rack 40 may be positioned on the positioning device 60 exactly.The positioning device 60 has a bottom formed with an arcuate fixingportion 63 for mounting the wheelchair “A”.

[0031] The positioning bar 70 is mounted on the rear portion of the sidesupport frame 10 of each of the two sides of the wheelchair “A”, and hasa bottom provided with a pivot portion 71 pivotally mounted on the pivotshaft 81 of the rotation shaft 80 by a pivot axle.

[0032] The rotation shaft 80 is rotatably mounted in a shaft hole 91formed in the support shaft 90 of the wheelchair “A”. The second end ofthe support crossbar 43 is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 81 ofthe rotation shaft 80, and the pivot portion 71 of the positioning bar70 is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft 81 of the rotation shaft 80,so that the positioning bar 70 and the side support frame 10 of each ofthe two sides of the wheelchair “A” may be pivoted about the pivot shaft81 of the rotation shaft 80 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0033] In operation, the locking member 50 may be pressed and pivoted todetach the hook portion 51 of the locking member 50 from the hook cavity62 of the positioning device 60, so that the insertion rod 42 of thesupport rack 40 may be detached from the insertion recess of thepositioning device 60. In such a manner, the side support frame 10 ofeach of the two sides of the wheelchair “A” may be pivoted about thepivot shaft 81 of the rotation shaft 80 to any inclined angle as shownin FIG. 5. In addition, the rotation shaft 80 may be rotated in theshaft hole 91 of the support shaft 90 of the wheelchair “A”, and theside support frame 10 may be rotated through a fixed angle. Thus, theside support frame 10 may be pivoted and moved to a rear portion of thebackrest of the wheelchair “A”, thereby facilitating the user enteringand leaving the wheelchair “A”.

[0034] Accordingly, the wheelchair “A” having an armrest adjustingdevice in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention has the following advantages.

[0035] 1. The side support frame of each of the two sides of thewheelchair may be pivoted about the pivot shaft of the rotation shaft toany inclined angle, thereby facilitating the user operating thewheelchair.

[0036] 2. The side support frame of each of the two sides of thewheelchair may be rotated about the support shaft of the wheelchairthrough a fixed angle, so that the side support frame may be rotated andmoved to a rear portion of the backrest of the wheelchair, therebyfacilitating the user entering and leaving the wheelchair.

[0037] 3. Each of the two lift posts of the armrest is movable on eachof the two hollow support posts of the side support frame, so that theheight of the armrest may be adjusted easily and conveniently.

[0038] 4. The side support frame of each of the two sides of thewheelchair may provide a stable and rigid support effect to thewheelchair, thereby protecting the user's safety.

[0039] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment as mentioned above, it is to be understood thatmany other possible modifications and variations can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore,contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover suchmodifications and variations that fall within the true scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wheelchair having two sides each provided witha side support frame, an armrest adjustably mounted on the side supportframe, and an armrest adjusting device mounted between the armrest andthe side support frame for adjusting a height of the armrest, wherein:the side support frame has a front portion provided with a support rack,and a rear portion provided with a positioning bar, the positioning baris pivotally connected with a rotation shaft, so that the side supportframe may be pivoted about the rotation shaft, the rotation shaft isrotatably mounted in a support shaft that is fixed on the wheelchair, sothat the side support frame and the rotation shaft may be rotated aboutthe support shaft.
 2. The wheelchair having an armrest adjusting devicein accordance with claim 1, wherein the side support frame has a mediateportion provided with a side plate.
 3. The wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side supportframe has a top provided with two opposite fixing portions and apositioning portion located between the two opposite fixing portions,the side support frame is further provided with two support posts eachlocated beside one of the two fixing portions, the armrest has a bottomprovided with two opposite lift posts each slidably mounted in one ofthe two support posts of the side support frame and each formed withmultiple positioning holes, the armrest adjusting device includes acover rotatably mounted on the positioning portion of the side plate,the cover has a periphery provided with two opposite protruding hookstubs, the armrest adjusting device further includes two adjustinglevers each having a first end pivotally mounted on one of two oppositeprotruding hook stubs of the cover, two positioning rods each slidablymounted in one of the two fixing portions and each having a first endpivotally mounted on a second end of one of the two adjusting levers anda second end protruded outward from the respective fixing portion anddetachably locked in a selective one of the multiple positioning holesof one of the two opposite lift posts of the armrest, and two elasticmembers each mounted on one of the two positioning rods and each biasedin the respective fixing portion.
 4. The wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the armrestadjusting device includes a handle mounted on the cover for rotating thecover.
 5. The wheelchair having an armrest adjusting device inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the each of the two fixing portions hasan inside formed with a positioning channel for receiving each of thetwo positioning rods.
 6. The wheelchair having an armrest adjustingdevice in accordance with claim 5, wherein the armrest adjusting devicefurther includes a catch flange formed in each of the two fixingportions, so that each of the two elastic members is biased between thecatch flange and an inner edge of the positioning channel of therespective fixing portion.
 7. The wheelchair having an armrest adjustingdevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side support frameincludes a support crossbar having a first end connected to the supportrack and a second end pivotally mounted on a pivot shaft formed on a topof the rotation shaft.
 8. The wheelchair having an armrest adjustingdevice in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support rack is providedwith a locking portion and has a bottom provided with an insertion rod,the support rack has a side provided with a locking member pivotallymounted on the locking portion of the support rack, the locking memberhas a bottom formed with a hook portion, and an elastic member ismounted on the locking member, and has a first end secured on thelocking member and a second end locked on the locking portion of thesupport rack.
 9. The wheelchair having an armrest adjusting device inaccordance with claim 8, further comprising a positioning device securedon each of the two sides of the wheelchair and formed with an insertionrecess for insertion of the insertion rod of the support rack, thepositioning device has a wall formed with a hook cavity for locking thehook portion of the locking member, so that the support rack may bepositioned on the positioning device exactly.
 10. The wheelchair havingan armrest adjusting device in accordance with claim 9, wherein thepositioning device has a bottom formed with an arcuate fixing portionfor mounting the wheelchair.
 11. The wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the positioning barhas a bottom provided with a pivot portion pivotally mounted on a pivotshaft of the rotation shaft.
 12. The wheelchair having an armrestadjusting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rotation shaftis rotatably mounted in a shaft hole formed in the support shaft of thewheelchair.